"Even though we give very strict guidelines on proper behavior and we hold students to high standards, he is only 12 and I don't think he understood the ramifications of what he did before it happened, but he certainly understands the severity of it now,"

By 12 you should know better then to stick gum to something IN A MUSEUM

12 is the average age of a sixth or seventh grader. Anyone in junior high knows better by that time than to stick gum on something. Especially, something that does not belong to them and will damage it. That little shit fucker deserves to be beat and if I was his mother I would.